Download The middle cranial fossa is separated from the posterior cranial

Base of the Skull
The interior of the base of the skull is
divided into three cranial fossae:
2-Middle
1-Anterior
1-Anterior
2-Middle
3-Posterior
3-Posterior
The anterior cranial fossa
is separated from
the middle cranial fossa
By
The lesser wing of the
sphenoid
The middle cranial
fossa is separated from
the posterior cranial
fossa By
The petrous part of
the temporal bone
Anterior Cranial Fossa
Contains the frontal lobes of
the cerebral hemispheres
It is bounded
Anteriorly: by the inner surface of the
frontal bone
In the midline: a crest galli for the
attachment of the falx cerebri.
Posteriorly :the lesser wing of the
sphenoid bone
Note: The medial end of the lesser wing of
the sphenoid forms
The anterior clinoid process
gives attachment to the
Tentorium cerebelli.
The floor of the fossa is formed by:
Laterally :orbital plates of the frontal bone
Medially: by the cribriform plate of the
ethmoid
The crista galli is a sharp upward
projection of the ethmoid bone in the
midline for the attachment of
The falx cerebri.
Middle Cranial Fossa
formed by:
the body of the sphenoid It is bounded
Anteriorly by: the lesser wings
of the sphenoid
Posteriorly by :the superior
borders of the petrous parts of
the temporal bones
Laterally :
the squamous parts of the temporal
bones, the greater wings of the
sphenoid,
and the parietal bones.
The floor of each lateral part of the
middle cranial fossa is formed by
the greater wing of the sphenoid and
the squamous and petrous parts of
the temporal bone.
The sphenoid bone
resembles a bat having a centrally placed body
with greater and lesser wings that are
outstretched on each side
1-The body of the sphenoid :contains the
sphenoid air sinuses
2-The optic canal transmits
A- The optic nerve
B-The ophthalmic artery
3-The superior orbital fissure
is a slitlike opening between
the lesser and greater wings
of the sphenoid transmits:
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Lacrimal
Frontal
Trochlear
Superior division of Oculomotor nerve
Nasociliary
Inferior division of oculomotor nerve
Abducent nerves
together with the superior ophthalmic vein.
4-The foramen rotundum
situated behind the medial end of the superior
orbital fissure
Transmits the maxillary nerve.
5-The foramen ovale
lies posterolateral to the foramen rotundum
Transmits the mandibular nerve
the lesser petrosal nerve
6-The small foramen spinosum
lies posterolateral to the foramen
ovale The foramen transmits
The middle meningeal artery
7-Foramen lacerum
lies between the apex of the petrous part of the
temporal bone and the sphenoid bone
in life is filled by cartilage and fibrous
tissue, and only small blood vessels pass
through this tissue from the cranial cavity to
the neck.
8-The carotid canal
Transmits: The internal carotid artery
9- Meckl’s cave:
impression on the apex of the petrous part of
the temporal bone for the trigeminal ganglion
10-The median part of the middle cranial
fossa is formed by:
the body of the sphenoid bone
In front of it is
The sulcus chiasmatis
which is related to the optic chiasma
and leads laterally
To
THE OPTIC CANAL
On the superior aspect of the body is a
depression called
The sella turcica
which CONTAIN
THE PITUITARY GLAND
The sella turcica is bounded posteriorly by
a square plate of bone called
THE DORSUM SELLAE
The superior angles of the dorsum sellae
have
two tuberclescalled
The posterior clinoid processes
which give attachment to the fixed
margin of
The tentorium cerebelli.
Posterior Cranial Fossa
Contains the parts of the hindbrain:
The cerebellum, Pons, and Medulla
oblongata
Is bounded by:
Anteriorly: the petrous part of the temporal bone
Posteriorly : the internal surface of the
squamous part of the occipital bone
The floor is formed by:Parts of the occipital bone
The mastoid part of the temporal bone
The roof is formed by:
a fold of dura
THE TENTORIUM CEREBELLI
which intervenes between the
cerebellum below And
the occipital lobes of the cerebral
hemispheres above
1-The internal acoustic meatus
pierces the posterior surface of the petrous part
of the temporal bone.
It transmits:
A- THE VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE
B- THE FACIAL NERVE.
2-The internal occipital protuberance
attached to it the small falx cerebelli
3- Groove for the transverse sinus:
On each side of the internal occipital
protuberance
4-the sigmoid sinus
4-the sigmoid
sinus
5-The foramen magnum
occupies the central area of the floor
Transmits
A- The medulla oblongata and its
surrounding meninges
B- The ascending spinal parts of the accessory
nerves
C-The two vertebral arteries
6-The hypoglossal canal
is situated above the anterolateral boundary
of the foramen magnum
Transmits the hypoglossal nerve
7-The jugular foramen
It transmits the following structures:
from before backward:
A-The inferior petrosal sinus
B-The 9th, 10th, and 11th cranial
nerves
C- The large sigmoid sinus
D-The inferior petrosal sinus
E-The sigmoid sinus turns down
through the foramen
to become the internal jugular
vein
Inferior View of the Skull
1-The hard palate whic is made of:
A-The palatal processes of the
maxillae (vertical)
B-The horizontal plates of the
palatine bones
2-Incisive fossa and foramen
3-The greater and lesser palatine
foramina
4-The choanae (posterior nasal
apertures).
5-The vomer
6-Medial and lateral pterygoid
plates
of the sphenoid bone
The greater wing of the sphenoid is
pierced by the large
7-foramen ovale
8-foramen spinosum
9-The spine of the sphenoid
LOCATED Posterolateral to
the foramen spinosum is
10-The mandibular fossa of the temporal bone
and the articular tubercle form the upper
articular surfaces for the temporomandibular
joint.
11-The styloid process of
the temporal bone
15- Foramen lacerum
12-Tympanic plate of the
temporal bone
13-the external
auditory meatus
14-The opening of the
carotid canal
16- The stylomastoid foramen
In the interval between the styloid and mastoid
processe
17-jugular foramen
18-Hypoglossal canal
Superior to the occipital condyle
for transmission of the
hypoglossal nerve
19-The basilar part of the
occipital bone
20-The occipital condyles
21-The external
occipital
protuberance.
22- The superior nuchal lines :posterior to the
foramen magnum in the midline